James Wimmer Antique-Style Violin, 2001, Santa Barbara | Metzler Violins

[further details about this instrument are forthcoming]

About the Maker
James Wimmer (1949- ) is a contemporary luthier in Santa Barbara, California. In his youth, Wimmer performed fiddle in an old-time string band. He toured Germany as an exchange student in 1969, ultimately remaining in the country for 14 years. For four of those years, Wimmer apprenticed under the master luthiers Wolfgang Uebel in Celle, Germany. Under Uebel, Wimmer largely assisted in the making of made violas de gamba, supplying the instruments for the GEWA catalog. Wimmer later worked under Herbert Rainer Knobel, also in Celle. After returning the United States, Wimmer opened his own atelier in Santa Barbara in 1986. Wimmer recently lead a violin making workshop in Chennai, India and built a quartet of instruments for Westmont College. Wimmer has made over 200 fine instruments over the decades of his career, making sure to select prized European woods.